March 2016

Today the Investigatory Powers Bill (IPB) will be debated in the House of Commons for the first time. This is called the “second reading” and is the first of a number of stages. The table below shows how the IPB will have to work its way through each stage in Parliament before it becomes law. I support the principle of legislation that …

I asked Cabinet Office Minister Matthew Hancock this morning to confirm that the Government will make changes to the Freedom of Information Act to allow taxpayer scrutiny of businesses providing lucrative public sector contracts. Disappointingly, the Minister refused to make such a commitment. I asked my question during Cabinet Office Questions in the House of Commons today. At present, Government …

Today I took the opportunity to ask the Justice Minister Dominic Raab what impact leaving the EU would have on the UK’s ability to protect victims of crime and as a result, the scope of the European Arrest Warrant. The European Arrest Warrant is an arrest warrant valid throughout all member states of the European Union. Once issued, it requires …